Book Clubs: The Dream (and the Slog)

There are a few things that feel genuinely magical as a new author.

One is when a stranger buys your book (a real stranger — not your mate’s cousin’s dog groomer who’s bought it out of obligation).

Another is when someone messages you saying, “I laughed out loud at Chapter X,” because that means the humour survived the page and actually made it into a human.

But the big, sparkly dream?

Book clubs.

Because book clubs are where books become shared experiences. Where characters and scenes get debated like they’re real people. Where someone says, “I HATED him,” and someone else says, “I know, but I would absolutely have dated him in my twenties,” and then everyone groans in collective recognition.

For a new author, book clubs can make all the difference, not just in sales (though yes please, I have bills), but in visibility. In momentum. In that wonderful ripple effect where one group reads it, loves it, recommends it… and suddenly you’re no longer whispering into the void.

So I’ve been researching how to get in front of book clubs.

And I’ll be honest: it’s a bit of a slog.

There’s no big red button that says “Insert Book Into Readers’ Hands Immediately.” (If anyone finds one, do let me know. I will kiss you on the forehead and bring snacks.)

It’s lots of small actions:

• making a list of local and online book clubs

• finding contact emails (and getting rejected by “Contact Us” forms that vanish into space)

• crafting messages that don’t sound like spam, but also don’t sound like I’m begging outside Tesco

• sending polite, hopeful outreach and trying not to refresh my inbox like it owes me money

And yet… I’m weirdly enjoying it, because it’s teaching me something.

Publishing isn’t just writing. It’s persistence. It’s showing up again and again, even when you feel like you’re shouting, “Hello? Anyone?” into a windy field.

But I do believe the right readers find you — especially with books like mine, where the whole point is: you’re not alone, modern dating is feral, and yes, we can laugh at it and feel something real underneath.

So if you’re in a book club — or you know someone who runs one — I’d love to get the book in front of you. I’m very happy to:

• join a Zoom for a Q&A

• provide discussion questions

• do a cheeky little “author pop-in” (I promise not to be cringe… only medium cringe, as a treat)

Because getting in front of book clubs right now would genuinely make all the difference.

And if you’re also in the stage of trying to get your work seen, I see you. It’s not glamorous, it’s not instant, and it’s not always fun.

But it is worth it.

One email. One yes. One group of readers at a time.

If your club would like a copy / wants to chat, drop me a message, I'd love to chat. Email me at NellaDarlingAuthor@gmail.com or reach out to me on X https://x.com/NellaDAuthor